Greg James’ Radio 1 Breakfast Show will be ‘well-behaved’ as he tries to change the show’s rock ‘n’ roll reputation

In an exclusive interview with Bizarre, Greg says it's more important to be funny and good than an 'absolute embarrassment'

Exclusive

From Simon Boyle's Bizarre Column

13 Aug 2018, 21:31

Updated: 13 Aug 2018, 21:31

FROM ZOE BALL to Chris Evans, the Nineties saw some wild DJs host the Radio 1 Breakfast Show who were arguably more rock 'n’ roll than the celebrities they interviewed.

But those years of hungover presenters falling out of taxis outside the studio having just left a party is well and truly over — and it’s not a bad thing, according to the next man to take the job, Greg James.

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Greg James is the new host of the Radio 1 Breakfast ShowCredit: BBC

He has defended himself from people, who laid into him for being clean-cut and well-behaved.

In an exclusive interview, days before his first show next Monday, he said: “It’s more important for my show to be funny and good than for me to go out and be an absolute embarrassment, rolling out of nightclubs and stuff.

“The old Nineties edition of Radio 1, I don’t think it would work now.

“People would be like, ‘What the f*** are you doing? Do a good radio show. Get p***ed and be a mess in private, but I want a good show. I don’t necessarily want to hear you being unbearable’.

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Greg James says being called well-behaved is a complimentCredit: PA:Press Association

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Greg James wants the show to be funny and good without being an embarrassmentCredit: Getty - Contributor

“The world has moved on. People pay a licence fee for me to be good at my job, so I do take my job really seriously, but I want the show to be really fun and silly and stupid.

“If it means I drink a bit less and go to bed a bit earlier, and the show is better and funnier because of it, then I will definitely do that.

“I think I should be good at my job.”

But after 11 years at the station, Greg — who is engaged to journalist Bella Mackie after dating Ellie Goulding from 2010 to 2012 — insists he isn’t quite as squeaky clean as everyone thinks.

Kate and Wills introduce the Radio 1 official chart with Greg James

He continued: “I’m really clever that I’ve got away with loads of stuff.

“If they haven’t got any s*** on me, that’s great, I will keep it that way.

“Well-behaved is quite a compliment, I’m pleased I’ve managed to scrape through with that.

“But I’ve just been really honest about everything, so when you come out in front of people and say, ‘I f***ed up here, I had a s*** relationship here, this show was terrible’, you’re aware of your flaws and no one can get you on anything.”

None of those have done what Steps managed last year when their comeback album Tears On The Dancefloor surprisingly charted at No2. And I’m not quite sure B*Witched will be able to hit the same heights.

bizbit

LOUIS Tomlinson won Best Male Artist at the Teen Choice Awards. Camila Cabello was named Best Female Artist while 5 Seconds of Summer picked up Best Music Group at Sunday’s event in Los Angeles.

insta-glam

KELLY BROOK is never “board” when she’s with toy-boy Jeremy Parisi in the sea off Barcelona. She wrote: “Snorkeling amongst jellyfish, my favourite activity.”

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Kelly Brook's boyfriend Jeremy Parisi kept close watch on the star as she smiled on a surfboardCredit: Instagram

She tweeted later: “My first ever major festival headline show. What an absolute dream. I don’t know how we got here so fast but I never wanna leave. Love you all so much for last night . . . life is pretty crazy.”

Dua Lipa rides a giant flamingo in sizzling show at the Billboard Music Awards

John lifts the lid

THE penny has dropped for John Newman that the music industry is a fickle place.

He has opened up about needing to take time out to get away from the hangers-on.

The singer said: “I felt like the quality of my music was starting to deteriorate.
“When you start losing a bit of success, you start losing people around you. When they start going sour on you, it really affects you.

“My health wasn’t great and I needed to stop and get out. Thank God I did but I’m coming back with a totally different mental attitude.

“Some people hang around with the next hot thing then they’re not interested.

“What matters is the music. You will end up having a better time instead of trying to be liked.”

Seems like a good motto to live by.

George hoping for pub gig

MOST pop stars aspire to selling out Wembley Stadium or headlining Glastonbury.

George Ezra would love his own segment on CountryfileCredit: Splash News

In an exclusive interview, the Shotgun singer said: “This isn’t going to do anything for my rock ’n’ roll image but I love Countryfile. I’d happily guest on an episode. It would be country pub walks with George Ezra.”

Ahead of his headline set at Boardmasters Festival in Newquay, Cornwall, on Sunday, he added: “The world would be a better place if more people watched Countryfile.”

George has been busy planning his first headline arena tour, which kicks off next March and consists of ten shows across the UK, including London’s O2 Arena. He said: “It will be the best concert anyone’s ever been to.”

Official video for George Ezra's new single Shotgun

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Rig night out

Emma Rigby looked classy in all black at the premiere of The FestivalCredit: PA

FORMER soap star Emma Rigby had to scrub up well for the world premiere of The Festival, a film in which she plays a partygoer painted like a smurf.

The ex-Hollyoaks actress wore lacy black to the event in London’s Leicester Square on Monday night.

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Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas was also at the premiere as he stars in the filmCredit: PA

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Joe's fiance Hannah looked elegant in her long pink dressCredit: Rex Features

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Emma' sister Kara was also at the premiere in Leicester SquareCredit: Rex Features

In the film, she has a shot-drinking contest with Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas.

Joe said one bit of the film – also starring his fiancee Hannah Tointon, whose actress sister Kara was also at the premiere – involves somebody “pooing in a bag”.

The Festival, out on Tuesday, sounds really in tents.

Bizmeter

PARIS JACKSON underwent surgery last week to remove an abscess the size of a “golf ball”. Not revealing where it was, Jacko's daughter wrote on Instagram: “If it pops, you can go septic and die . . . they operated immediately.”

PRODUCER BENNY BLANCO is racing up the charts with his debut solo single. After working on songs for Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, SIA and Justin Bieber, his track Eastside, ft. Halsey and Khalid, is at No12.

NICKI MINAJ had to axe a track from new album Queen, which is at No1 in 81 countries, after Tracy Chapman banned her sampling 1988 tune Baby Can I Hold You. She explained in a since-deleted tweet: “Sis said no.”

AFTER comeback single No Excuses charted at a poor No70 in March, Meghan Trainor has delayed her album Treat Myself. It was due to be out in a fortnight, but she said: “I just keep writing songs . . . I can’t stop here.”

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